Ex racer adoption Pepper- advice wanted

I’ll chip in! Please excuse me if some of this is old news for ya.

I recommend getting a 3’ x 4’ crate and a soft / comfy mattress. That way she gets a little safe space she can retreat to when she wants space, etc.

You could consider getting a belly warmer. Can help with nerves, and one of my grays gets chilly at relatively warm temps so it’s helped keep her comfy. K9 voyagers makes good belly warmers (and other greyhound gear - consider rain and winter jackets depending on your area).

I walk my pups with harnesses. Seems like a little less strain on their necks. Ruffwear makes good ones. Best to go to pet store with pup and try things on.

Elevated food bowls make life easier for them, and also keeps too much of a mess from eating / splashing. I use Neater Feeder.

My pups eat Costco “lamb, rice and vegetable” kibble. My greyhound pet org recommended that to me - I can’t remember what, but there’s a certain grain that is bad to have in their food and apparently this one does not have it. They like the kibble saturated with water. Sometimes I mix in some wet food if they need enticement to eat.

Mine love squeaky toys, a foot or longer. They like to squeek and whip them around.

You could consider some supplements to account for any previous dietary deficiencies. Vet might have advice?

Also, I got a lot of advice with (edit: from) “greyhound pets, inc.” In woodinville, WA. I’d wager that, if you gave them a call, they’d have plenty of info for you. They also have an introductory brochure that they could probably send your way.

Lots of patience, love and cheese. I cannot stress how important the cheese is.

Mine doesn’t play with toys so if you find she’s not very interested either get toys you hide treats in or a cardboard egg box with some treats in it.

I’m overwhelmed at the wonderful comments on this post thank you all very much. We had a very difficult first night with lots of crying. My partner had to sleep downstairs with her in the end. Anyone else experienced this? I think she just needs to realise we won’t leave her 💔 poor thing has been through hell. I’m intrigued by the crate suggestions I’ve never used a crate before, might be a good idea. Thank you for all the tips I’ve learnt loads from these responses. I’m in the UK so will look at what we’ve got available to us regarding food. I need to go through all the comments properly and digest but for now, we’re all going to try and get a few more hours shut eye 😴 Thanks again xx

I’m in Australia- I wish I could give you all my old hounds toys- I’m sending love and some nice smelling baths for Pepper.

Can you please post regular updates PLEASE- also if you have a tiktok I’d love to follow. This is a good sub with lots of lovely hound parents and good advice. You are so lovely and lucky to have her, THANKYOU so much for rescuing this angel!!!! Big pats and hugs and treats from Melbourne- ❤️❤️❤️❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

All I can say is thank you for rescuing her.

Awww, bless her! And congrats on your new family member ❤️

One of the rescues I used to volunteer for has made some great video content all about bringing your grey home and getting them set up for success, I highly recommend these https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLteM83No2C_uTu8sBCIOpSyKUexS3e2HS&si=tTsET7UjvTYdof6z

Your location will influence what food brands you can get, I’m in the UK and feed my grey Pets at Home Step Up Naturals grain free and about 300g of cooked mince (just regular human grade mince) every day. Whatever you pick to feed her, I’d recommend not changing her food too often, they have notoriously sensitive tummies and changes to their food can really upset them.

What ever bed you decide, get the biggest size, when she relax and stretches out she’ll take up the whole bed. as for toys, it sounds like she won’t know how to play, some of them never really get into toys, others love them and happily play, some love them too much and resource guard, my girl likes soft toys she can throw in the air and pounce on, and that squeak, but don’t be surprised if you have to repeatedly teach her how to squeak them before she clicks :)

For now, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to take it super slowly with her, keep her world really small, let her get used to her new environment and her new family at her own pace, make sure she knows she has a safe space (her bed/crate) and that she can retreat there if she’s overwhelmed. Wait for walks, if you don’t have a garden, take her out frequently for short toilet walks only, ideally to the same place/strip of grass so she becomes familiar, you can gradually build up the distance as she starts to decompress so she’s not overwhelmed with the new people, places and sounds too soon.

This isn't helpful but is she named Pepper because she really SPICED up your life?

She’s lucky to have you. She has the same pattern and color as my grey. Like others have said, get a big crate and some nice soft beds.

I would get salmon oil to put in her food. That will really help her coat. Kong toys are great for stimulation. A thunder jacket would be good too to help with anxiety.

Dogs are very resilient. You’ll see her real personality come out gradually.

I’m a little late to the party, and you have gotten a lot of good advice. I can’t think of anything to add except that my grey, who came from Ireland last year, absolutely LOVES stuffed hedgehogs. He’s been through a couple. And belly scratches. So glad she found a good, loving home, and I hope you guys have many wonderful years together!

I am so sad to hear about Pepper’s past life 😣 for food, I use Hills science diet (and my parents use it for theirs as well) in the chicken and barley recipe. My grey has always had tummy issues and that one has always been the best for her. I do know that this will depend on where you live as some others have commented about this.

As for toys, it can be very trial and error on finding out what your pup specifically likes. Mine loved squeaky anything when I first got her, and she loved to chase squeaky tennis balls. Now, she is the laziest dog ever and has a pile of untouched toys from bark box. It would be best to try out different kinds of toys with Pepper to see what she likes best and go from there. I definitely recommend crinkly toys with squeakers, the crinkles can be a softer noise that gets them interested in the toys. If you can get barkbox, it is a great experience and a great way to try out different toys and treats out with your baby. You can also do add-ons each month if you like to add to what your baby gets.

For beds, our greys love the donut beds from Tall Tails here in the US (size x-large, regardless of how tiny or big they are). I have also seen some mentions of the Snooza bed in Australia on here.

And as always, just take time with Pepper! She will learn that you love her and want the best for her. It just takes time, and it is especially important to remember! Best of luck to Pepper and her retirement 🥰

First off good on you for saving this pup. What I found is Greys and owners become attached like non other. The first few weeks will be overwhelming but you’ll get the hang of it. Just keep up with good hygiene, but an assortment of toys and see what Pepper likes. Get quality treats with minimal ingredients. We add freeze dried food to our greys kibble to minimize processed food.

But I can’t stress enough the first few weeks will seem confusing and overwhelming but slowly Peppers needs will become second nature and you’ll forget you ever made this post.

Good on you for rescuing her! Try looking for low calorie training treats. There are lots of good turkey ones. Using the treats will help her get used to being around you and your family. It will probably take a while, but little by little she will get more comfortable and feel more safe with you.

The tattoos in her ears are usually her birth year and ID( kinda like a dog social security) either a link to her dam/sire or her kennel where was born. Kennels have assigned numbers with whatever Ireland's version of our national greyhound association (NGA for US racers) is. When I got my grey he was pathetic looking,starved,had no furr on his belly/ hind legs and tail. Lots of dirt came from his first bath,I actually found out he was fawn vs dark brown. I would say spend lots of time with her,invest in some good quality dog food and a nice bed or crate so she can have a safe place. Greyhounds are sensitive but very resilient. They are super intune with their family and you will see very quickly how she will adapt to your behaviour/ routine and body langue. These dogs are smart and they observe people and animals to figure them out. I highly recommend you deworm and use heartguard too,heartworm might not be a issue in Ireland but the medication also kills hookworms,whipworms and fleas. Just make sure you get the right dose for her weight. You will need to get a Rx from a vet for it. It is often cheaper to get it done at a clinic associated with the local animal shelter because their flea and tick prevention is bought in such quantities that they can sell it cheaper. Elevated food bowls are better for Grey's because they have such long necks,it makes eating and drinking easier. If your dog eats too fast,try a slow feeder in their bowl because too much air in their stomach can cause bloat and that's very dangerous for large breeds like Greys' For colder weather you should get some doggie sweaters and raincoat to protect her from the elements sonce they have very little fat/ thin coat. I also say keep her nails dremeled and keep a eye on her paw pads because greyhounds often develop corns on their pads and they become painful to walk on if not hulled and removed before they get too big. As far as collars go, get a martingale collar for her and no retractable leashes. I learned that lesson with my grey. Normal collars will slip off their heads and chasing a greyhound is like trying to keep up with a car when you are on foot. Retractable leashes can choke a grey because they can accelerate very quickly if they see something they want to chase. Also you might want to test out how she reacts to rabbit or duck call whistles. My dog actually responded to those when he ignored my calls otherwise. Though I would only try that in a secure fenced in area. Lots of people will tell you you can never let a greyhound off the leash,however it really comes down to where you let your dog roam and how well they respond to recall. Just keep in mind they have a instinct to chase small animals so nomatter how well trained they are,if a rabbit or squirrel comes along you ll be left behind😄 I used to let my dog run in the woods,only after he was very familiar with the way we always took,he had GPS tracker and I had a rabbit call. I enjoyed watching him just be a dog,chase,go in the water and explore nature. I knew him well enough,so I could count on him coming back once he got bored with chasing.Oh and if you haven't discovered it yet...most greyhounds love going in the water. They might not go swimming like Labradors would,but they seem to enjoy walking around or laying down in puddles,shallow ponds or even those kiddie pools. Enjoy your time with her,greyhounds are awesome and it's impossible not to fall in love with this amazing breed.

You’ll get plenty of great tips and guidance from others here. I just wanted to say I’m so sorry to hear what Pepper has been through and I hope she enjoys the new life you’re going to give her. Congratulations to you.

❤️ 💕 Pepper will be fine now that she has love in her life. Time and patience and care and I just know you will get her to thrive

Do you have pics of the ear tattoos? I have searched these tags for you but nothing comes up for 327. I have only seen letter ls rather than numbers typically (but I am no expert)

A greyhound will generally love to have ears rubbed and tickled. Belly rubs tend to do the job too

Unlike most other breeds, Pepper has no undercoat and will feel the cold more. If you find you need an extra layer, assume she feels the same way, if not moreso

Also greyhounds can have extremely sensitive stomachs so be really careful with what you feed her. Try to establish what she's been eating up til now and carry on with that. Mine has colitis and I really can't stray too far at all from a mostly kibble, 20ish percent protein diet.

There's a very good chance that, if you like tuna or sardines, you'll never be able to open a can of either without suddenly noticing a cold nose at your hip. I tend to pour the brine from sardines over my yoke's dry feed and she loves it. I used to do it with sunflower oil from sardines and tuna but it wasn't great for her stomach

Finally, you need to come to terms with the fact you haven't adopted a dog. You've adopted a greyhound. All joking aside, they're not the same thing. You're actually now the host to a very quiet, very sleepy, cat/dog hybrid

This is such a sad story, poor girl 😢 how anyone can inflict such suffering on another living being is completely beyond me 🥹I hope one day they suffer similar treatment! 😡 My advice is just to take things slowly, show her love when she looks like she needs it and give her a warm comfy bed somewhere quiet. I'm just so glad her life from now on will be one of purely love and affection 🥰❤️❤️

She is SO BEAUTIFUL! I’m so glad she’s safe with you ❤️

Gosh that’s so heartbreaking, you’ve done such a kind thing taking her in to your home. My main advice is to give her time, my grey, who had definitely not come from such an abusive place, found being washed very traumatic, so pepper may need a day or two between washes. Obviously you don’t want her to be dirty as that will also be uncomfortable for her, but she might need to understand that you and your home are safe.

We also had a brush ours loved, she’d stand there for as long as you needed, I think it was a bit like a a massage for her. A but like this, but ours was plastic not bamboo. The brushed pulled the dead hair out of her coat, and gave her a nice rub too. It’s very gentle, so won’t hurt their think skin, and I imagine the dead fleas would come out with it too.

We did have a furminator but were later told that they just cut the hair and soo much more harm than good.

The bed you have for her looks great - you might find she pulls it around and fluffs it up a bit, this is because their chests are so deep they need more layers to be comfy compared to other dogs. A double or king size duvet folded into four makes a nice bed in a pinch (with a cover, of course!). Some greys also like beds with a small wall of cushion, they can loll their necks on it, and some greys seem to like crates but we never had one so cannot comment.

My grey loved her soft toys as she got older but didn’t care at all for them when young. She always loved squeaky toys, but usually had destroyed them and punctured the plastic squeaker within a day!

Don’t worry if she seems distant or aloof for a bit, she will settle down in her time and you cannot rush it. I think they are such clever dogs, they do understand when you wish them kindness versus someone who will abuse them. Depending on what the place was like, she may never have seen stairs before, or hear a hoover etc, so these might frighten or confuse her at first.

I am sure there is a website where you can look up their tattoos and see their races, assuming they were registered. I will try to find it!

Greys and hounds in general are so different from other dog types, but she may never do some of the ‘typical’ greyhound things. Mine only roached when she could lean against something soft on one side, when she tried it without she’d always flip over quickly, and she didn’t hoard toys in her bed either, but she was a very happy girl. They also show affection in different ways - chattering teeth and a gentle lean on you are classic signs of happiness and affection. They also have a ‘what’s in it for me’ approach to training, so I found that if I wasn’t constantly reinforcing commands with praise and love, she conveniently managed to ‘forget’ how to heel on walks or to stop at the curb etc.

She’s a beautiful girl and I wish you many, many happy years with her. You’re both so lucky to have found each other

EDITING TO ADD:

For Irish greys this website should be able to give you more information if you email them Pepper’s DOB and registered 'racing' name.

I saw someone mention elevated food and water bowls - an absolute must!! Their long necks get sore otherwise.

I’m not sure where you are based but in summer mine got so hot I ordered a cooling mat for her, which she loved. I got mine from Amazon but I’m sure other places sell them too.

And finally, this will be unpopular, but until you are sure of her prey drive she needs to be muzzled when on walks. After a few close calls mine was always muzzled. She hated it and I felt so bad putting it on her, but she almost killed a small dog once. So many people actually thanked me for doing it as their cat or small dog had been attacked by an unmuzzled grey.

shes beautiful in a month or 2 she will be settled in and loving life.

I had an Irish Ex Racer .. he loved a big bed at the end of our bed. You'd see his feet as he slept on his back. When we got him we put him in the spare room and he hated it. Calmed down a lot as soon as he shared with us.

Also, let her on the couch if it's a big one. They'll be so happy to rest their head on you guys.

Miss my one so much, lost him a few weeks ago at age 13. Rescued at 3, adopted by us at 5. She'll be so grateful to you in time, good on you 👍

My goodness. You are an angel. Thank you for taking her in and fixing her up. I don't have much advice but lots of treats and positive reinforcement and make sure she knows the rules of the house. She looks beautiful ❤️ please keep us posted with her progress.

May I just thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul for rescuing this amazing soul. You are truly a good person and I wish you every blessing. In the Uk if any help needed xxx

Thank you for rescuing this sweet babe and giving her a safe place to be.

Congrats on your new addition! ❤️

For beds-

Top Paw, cat number SKU#5291318, 38x48x6 https://www.petsmart.com/dog/beds-and-furniture/orthopedic-beds/top-paw-orthopedic-memory-foam-quilt-mattress-dog-bed-5291318.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADiLNNnkqPFaiNpcJMa5WsmsrlXY5

50-inch bed from Cordaroys (an alternative to the beloved discontinued slumberball from Dr. Foster&smith), note that the filler material stinks at first but will go away https://cordaroys.com/collections/dog-beds/products/forever-50-inch-dog-bed?variant=41411985932461